Manqoba Mngqithi: Playing in CAF competitions a development pipeline for SA players

Lamontville Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi has emphasised that participation in CAF competitions is crucial for the growth of football in South Africa and can help prepare players for Bafana Bafana.

Abafana Bes’thende recently missed a chance to end their trophy drought after being eliminated from the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals by neighbours Durban City in a 5-4 penalty shootout. Both sides had been locked at 1-1 after normal and extra time.

Having last lifted a trophy in 2008 with their MTN8 triumph, Arrows not only missed out on a potential second title but also lost the opportunity to qualify for next season's CAF Confederation Cup as winners of the competition.

Attention now turns to this weekend’s Betway Premiership clash away to Marumo Gallants, with the team focused on achieving their season goal of finishing in the top eight.

“My wish is to finish inside the top eight and I believe it’s not a far-fetched wish. I see my team having the capacity to do that,” said Mngqithi.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach brings a wealth of continental experience from his time with the Brazilians. While winning the Nedbank Cup would have been a significant milestone for Arrows, Mngqithi believes that exposure to inter-club competitions is essential for the broader development of South African football.

“Every team in South Africa should aspire to go to these inter-club competitions," he said.

“Because the growth and development of players can be seen clearly, you can look at Stellenbosch now; they are not the team they used to be. They fight and run a little bit more; they are used to conditions that can be unfair but you can still fight and get a result.

“That on its own should be sufficient as a development pipeline of the players because if we have dreams of our players playing in the national team, they should have been tested in these interclub competitions to get what happens when you go outside the country.”

Mngqithi also highlighted the financial incentives these tournaments provide in addition to the invaluable experience.

“If you look at my team, Arrows, I doubt that my South African players have been outside the country, and you want players to gain such an experience.

“Financially it’s incomparable to the PSL, because just getting to the group stages in Africa, you already stand a chance of getting more money than you would have in the Nedbank Cup, and already it’s a big incentive.

“And if you win the Confederation Cup, you would have probably won all the trophies in South Africa based on the prize money that you would get, so I would encourage it solely as a development project for the teams and the players and also the incentives that you get in those tournaments.”

With hopes of finishing in the top three now unlikely, Mngqithi and Arrows can focus entirely on achieving a top-eight finish, as they are no longer competing in any other tournaments this season.

* Obakeng Meletse is Independent Media’s multi-sport writer. For fresh video content, follow our YouTube channel The Clutch